Coronavirus India Updates: Tally Tops 19.6 Lakh; Over 40,000 Dead

Considering the rise in cases of coronavirus in Goa, the Indian Medical Association has suggested that the state government set up a 250-bed Covid-19 block at Goa Medical College and Hospital, an official said on Thursday.

IMA Goa president Dr. S Samuel also suggested that ESI Hospital, the designated Covid-19 hospital in the coastal state, be converted into a care centre with oxygen facility.

The state government must seriously consider setting up a 250-bed Covid-19 hospital block at the GMCH, he said. "This will not only help in good management logistically, but it will also not split the workforce, which is extremely important at a time when there is a scarcity of experts," he said.

ESI Hospital in Margao can be converted into a Covid- 19 care centre with oxygen facilities to treat patients with moderate symptoms and co-morbidities, which can be managed by doctors under health services, the IMA Goa chief added.

Source: PTI

The Centre has released Rs 890.32 crore as the second installment of the Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness package to 22 states and Union Territories, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The amount of financial assistance to each state and Union Territories is based on their Covid-19 caseload.

Those who received financial assistance in the second instalment include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim, the ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Rs 15,000 crore package as part of the 'Whole of Government' approach wherein the Centre is leading the Covid-19 response and management, and supporting the states and UTs through technical and financial resources.

The second installment of the aid will be used to strengthen public health infrastructure for testing, including procurement and installation of RT-PCR machines, RNA extraction kits, TrueNat and CB-NAAT machines, bolster infrastructure for treatment and development of ICU beds, installation of oxygen generators and procurement of bedside oxygen concentrators among others.

It would also be used for engagement, training and capacity building of necessary human resources and incentives to healthcare workforce and volunteers, including ASHA workers on Covid-19 duties, the health ministry said, adding that wherever necessary, volunteers registered on the Covid Warriors portal may also be engaged in coronavirus duties.

Source: PTI

The total number of #COVID19 samples tested up to 5th August is 2,21,49,351 including 6,64,949 samples tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/p87MjWa9du

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2020

Source: PTI

Global Update

California had its second-deadliest day in the pandemic and Florida’s case count topped 500,000. Texas’s test positivity rate reached a three-week high. New York City is setting up checkpoints at key entry areas to enforce state quarantine rules for travelers.

Johnson & Johnson will supply 100 million doses of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine to the U.S. The U.K. agreed to invest $18 million in a Scottish vaccine-manufacturing plant, while Moderna Inc. said it has received $400 million of deposits for its potential Covid-19 shot.

Over 18.6 million cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed globally with more than 702,000 dead.

Track all Covid-19 related news developments in India, here.